After the Civil War, American-manufactured silk fabrics, threads and trimmings, along with the sewing machine, encouraged extra detailing on fashionable garments, as seen on this highly-trimmed walking dress.

The skirt illustrates the popular short basque coat style, with it's fitted jacket-like bodice. The bodice has very low set trumpet sleeves, and a wide square neckline. Its front closure buttons are all missing. The bodice is trimmed with machine-made blue fringe, knotted at the header, and black machine-made lace at the neck, peplum waist (short, gathered, slightly flared strip of fabric attached at the waist ), and sleeve cuffs.

The front of the skirt includes a V-shaped decoration, with two bands of white piping and black machine-made lace. The skirt is lined with an open weave cotton, and the bottom of the skirt is lined with a Moiré, or rippled effect, black horsehair. The inside of the bodice sleeves are also lined in horsehair.